[time-nuts] HP5065A on eBay WARNING

[Bob kb8tq]

Hi

The gotcha with a Cs is the tubes wear out. Last time I put a tube in a 5071 it cost just 
about $40,000 including custom shipping of the “hazardous” Cs. From the description 
on that uint it does not *appear* that things are working correctly. 

Even if you do get a working Cs standard, the question is - how much longer will the 
tube last? It might be good for another 10 years. It might die tomorrow. That tends to be
a bit of a concern as far as running them all the time in a basement lab. 

With the high performance tubes in the 5071, my experience was that 6 to 7 years of 
continuous use was about it. The “standard” tubes in the 5071 should be good for > 2X that
time period.  

None of this is to say that the *only* reason one fails is the tube. It is not at all uncommon
to have other stuff fail. Usually the small stuff gets fixed and they go back into service. 
When the tubes go (or the problem is complicated) the go on the market…..

Indeed none of this is to say you *can’t* get a working Cs. You most certainly can. This
list is one pretty good place to find a working one from somebody who *knows* that it is
running properly. I’m not selling any of mine, but you may see emails from people who are. 

Of course it there *was* a really good deal on a 5071 … hmmm …. maybe I need another Cs …. :)

Bob

> On Feb 3, 2019, at 5:16 PM, Christoph Kopetzky <ck at cksd.de> wrote:
> 
> Hi Bob,
> thank you.
> Wow I did not realize that. Very interesting :)
> B.t.w. there is a HP 5071A on ...bay item nr 263497171568. Is this cesium clock ok for buying?
> 
> --
> with best Regards
> 
> Chris
> 
> Am 03.02.2019 um 21:29 schrieb Bob kb8tq:
>> Hi
>> 
>> The key is the top view of the 5065a. You can see through the holes in the top of the unit.
>> There’s a big empty space to the right in the picture where the optical unit / physics package
>> should be. There also are a few other tidbits missing but the physics package is the biggie.
>> 
>> Bob
>> 
>>> On Feb 3, 2019, at 2:30 PM, Christoph Kopetzky <ck at cksd.de> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hello Corby,
>>> in the case that this is a stupid question... I am sorry but can you tell me how I can see that the optical unit is missing?
>>> There are no pics of an open 5061A device...
>>> I am also wondering why this seller is shipping these units for this extraordinary price.
>>> He is telling in the description that the shipping costs will be calculated at the real destination but I will bet that the click
>>> on the buy it now button bounds you to pay the whole sum ...
>>> -- 
>>> 
>>> with best Regards
>>> 
>>> Chris
>>> 
>>> Am 03.02.2019 um 18:21 schrieb cdelect at juno.com:
>>>> Hi,
>>>> 
>>>> Wanted to warn about the 5065A that has now sold twice on eBay. (Jan 18
>>>> and Feb 2) When it first listed I contacted the seller and told him the
>>>> optical unit was missing (A12) and he should not call it "fully
>>>> functional" Anyway he sold it for his asking price and now it looks like
>>>> he just sold it again. If he has it returned and lists it again just be
>>>> aware its not all there! Not really worth the price with no A12!
>>>> 
>>>> Cheers,
>>>> 
>>>> Corby
>>>> 
>>>> 
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>